The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-10
MEMPHIs DAILY APpEAL- SUNDAY, APRIL 10. 1857

reliance and tenacity of will. TAX
him all in all, | think Sidney Burton
was the most remarkable man l had
ever met, and l have never heard,
except in the pages Of romance, of
his counterpart.
1T was in the spring of 1853 that
he called. He requested that l name
an hour to converse with him. After
he withdrew l read the letters.
There was something about him that
made me anxious to see him again,
and | waited his return with impt-
thence. 1t was GU the stroke Of the
hour that was appointed that he re-
turned. Twill say that hislnarrative
was SO exciting that | thought |
alternately felt my hair lift, cold
chills run down my back, and my
blood boil. The story he told was
so peculiar that l thought Burton
was insane. Then fell back on the
letters of introduction he brought,
and my subsequent acquaintance
dispelled any doubt | may have for
the moment entertained. Burton
told me that he had been a manu-
facturer and merchant in Ohio, that
he had been robbed by firm in that
State, and that he had devoted his
life to Furnishing the offenders. The
story Burton laid before me is so
long that might talk all day about
it. | have never forgotten any of
the details"
Another conspiracy against Bur-
ton was to attempt to place counter
felt money in his house. He had a
friend who acted as his assistant for
time-a constable of the name of
Bruin. The latter frustrated the
scheme In some way. During the
pursuit of Kissane and his accom-
plices, Burton came under the notice
of Gen. Franklin Pierce, then Presi-
dent of the United States. The lat
ter was interested in Burton's cru
SADIE, and, through the Secretary of
the Treasury, offered him a place to
ferret out suspected abuses in the
Treasury. Burton declined, exec pit
on condition that he might occupy
portion of his time following his
enemies. He was allowed the privi-
lege. The President became known
to the Kissane party and they en-
ployed lobbyists to prevent the pas
sage of the appropriations, and it
failed by two votes.
At this point Mr.. Eddy expressed
himself as disinclined to say any
thing against the twelve defendants
except to repeat what Burton told
him. He handed the Herald corre-
spondent the printed report of the
examination at Columbus, o., of the
conspirators in January, 1858, before
United States Commissioner P. B.
Wilcox.
The four women came from Mas
sachusetts," was Mr.. Eddy's next
point of information. Their family
name was Chaplin, and as Mr.. Fair
banks stated yesterday, they came
from one of Massachusetts, old fami-
lies. Their home was near milford.
Kissane married one of the Chaplin
sisters. VIM. H. Holland, another
defendant, married second. Capt.
John A. Cummings, the commander
of the Martha Washington, was the
husband of the third, and the fourth
was the wife of another, whose name
l cannot recollect. Four brothers
were also in the alleged conspiracy
namely, Adam Chaplin, Rufus Chaplin,
Lorenzo Chaplin and Amasa Chaplin
There were in addition j. G. Nichol-
son, G. p. Stevens, Lewis Choate
and Lyman Cole. IF quarter of
what Burton charged is true these
people formed as dangerous a gang
as ever walked the face of the earth.
Murder, arson, swindliug and all
kinds of trick and violence may be
laid at their door"
The Herald correspondent, on
looking over the report of the exam
nation noticed that Kissane's bonds.
men were George II. Pendletou, the
present United States Minister tc
Germany; George Il. Pugh and
Oliver Brown. Henry Stanberry
afterward Attorney General of the
United States prosecuted the cases
"Choat was a river pilot. Lyman
Cole resided on an estate he OwneC
at Oxford, in Butler county, Ohio
He was arrested there. Kissant
was arrested in Cincinnati.
A FORCED MARRIAGE.
Burton informed me that thu
Miss Chaplin who married Captain
CUMMINGS did so at the point of thu
pistol. She was on his steamer some
where up Red River. Captain Cum
Inings was playing cards with {
gambler. She approached and draw.
ing a pistol pointed it at his hea(
and said, IF you do not promise t
marry me at once l will shoot. H,
promised and they went on the banE
and we're welded. There was SOM
previous relationship, and l mention
the circumstance to show what kline
of woman she was.
Burton, after discovering that h,
was defrsuded, went to the office o
Filley & Chaplin and demanded resti
tuition. He was laughed at.
!. He then said: i demand $1,000 +
compensate me for the sheepskins.
= will give you fifteen minutes to set
e tie. If you do not do so | will neve
s accept anything from you or you
gang. | will hound you to the end
: of the earth. -.
s Mr.. Eddy added impressively, ="
: personally know that he did" H
e then continued: Burton was pos
= sessed of property worth about $50
+ 600. He spent it all in his vengeanc
o on these twelve persons and consid
S erably more, which he borrowed
S When he first came to my office b
h had a pocketful of railway passe
which had been given h nf to aid hiI
= in getting about the country. H
was not insane-tar from it-but h
: dwelt on the one subject in his min
o so much, that he had but one idef
He never talked on anything else.
r saw a great deal of him.. He was a
9 ways calm, but as tenacious as ste'
). on that one great object of his lit,
# He frequently said, They will ki
me yet.
L REMARKABLE INCIDENTS.